How to Treat Tapeworms in Humans

There is a widespread belief that only dogs and cats are affected by tapeworms. While animals are indeed more susceptible, humans can also contract the infection by consuming undercooked beef, pork, or raw fish. Those infected with tapeworms may unknowingly spread the parasite by not washing their hands after using the bathroom or before preparing food. In most cases, tapeworm infections show few or no symptoms. It is crucial to treat tapeworms, as they can cause serious complications such as cysts in tissues and seizures.

Evaluate your environment and recent travel history. Tapeworms are found globally, but infection rates differ across countries. Each year, over 10 million people are infected worldwide, with fewer than 1,000 cases reported in the United States. Different types of tapeworms infect different animals.

• Pork and beef tapeworms are common in developing regions, such as Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America, particularly in areas with pig farming.
• Beef tapeworms are prevalent in regions where raw beef is commonly consumed, including Eastern Europe, Russia, East Africa, and Latin America.
• Fish tapeworms are commonly found in regions where raw fish is eaten, such as Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan.
• Dwarf tapeworms can be transmitted from person to person, especially among children living in unsanitary or crowded areas.
• Dog tapeworms may occasionally infect humans.

Review your recent diet. Tapeworm infection occurs when you consume raw or undercooked meat from animals that carry tapeworms. Those infected with tapeworms may also transmit the parasites to the meat while preparing it. You are at risk of tapeworm infection if you:

• Eat raw or undercooked meat.
• Consume food prepared in unsanitary conditions.

Check your stool. Tapeworm segments that appear in your stool are one of the most obvious signs of infection. These segments often resemble small white rice grains. You might notice them in toilet paper or your underwear.

• These segments typically appear 2-3 months after the tapeworm has developed and matured inside your body.
• Stool sample tests can help detect tapeworm segments more easily.

Assess other symptoms of tapeworm infection. Common symptoms of tapeworm infections include digestive disturbances like abdominal pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, and nausea. However, these symptoms may also be signs of other health issues. Additionally, some cases of tapeworm infection may show no symptoms at all.

• In more severe cases, tapeworm infections can cause symptoms such as fever, lumps or cysts, allergic reactions to tapeworm larvae, bacterial infections, or neurological symptoms like seizures. These symptoms typically arise if the tapeworm goes untreated. Therefore, it’s important to seek treatment even if the symptoms aren’t severe.

Visit a doctor. A doctor can analyze a stool sample to accurately diagnose tapeworm infection. This test helps identify the type of tapeworm, allowing the doctor to prescribe the appropriate treatment.

• In addition to diagnosing tapeworms, stool analysis can reveal other digestive issues such as infections, nutrient deficiencies, and even cancer.
• People with tapeworm infections may also need blood tests to detect antibodies in the blood.

Obtain a prescription from your doctor. After diagnosing a tapeworm infection, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat it. The most commonly prescribed drugs for tapeworms include praziquantel, albendazole, and nitazoxanide. The specific medication will depend on the type of tapeworm you are infected with.

Follow the prescribed treatment plan. In addition to taking the prescribed medication, it’s important to avoid reinfection or spreading the tapeworm to others. Tapeworm treatment medications do not affect the eggs, so reinfection is possible if personal hygiene is poor or food safety practices are not followed.

• If you have a cysticercosis infection (a more severe form of tapeworm), your doctor may recommend a longer and more complex treatment plan. This could include prescription medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants, or even surgery.

Ensure the tapeworm has been completely eliminated. Your doctor may reassess your condition after you have completed the prescribed treatment. Depending on the severity of the infection, a follow-up appointment may be scheduled 1-3 months after treatment.

• The effectiveness of the prescribed medication typically ranges from 85-100%, depending on the type of tapeworm and its location in the body.

Avoid eating raw meat. Some meats, such as beef, pork, fish, lamb, goat, and rabbit, carry a higher risk of tapeworm infection. The simplest way to prevent a tapeworm infection is to avoid eating raw or undercooked meat.

• While poultry can also harbor tapeworms, this is less common if the animals are raised in modern farm settings, where intermediaries like earthworms or beetles that spread tapeworms are eliminated.

Cook meat thoroughly. For whole cuts of meat, cook the meat from the inside out and ensure the internal temperature reaches 63°C. For ground meat, the internal temperature should reach 71°C.

• Freeze meat and fish at -10°C for at least 48 hours to kill tapeworm eggs and larvae.

Disinfect fruits and vegetables when traveling to areas with a high risk of tapeworm infection. You can use chemical solutions to disinfect fruits and vegetables, or simply wash them thoroughly with clean water (boiled water is recommended).

Wash your hands properly before cooking, before eating, and after handling raw meat or fish. Proper handwashing helps prevent the transfer of tapeworm eggs or larvae from your hands to food or your digestive system. You can also reduce the risk of spreading infection to others by practicing good hand hygiene.

• Make sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. You can wash while humming a song that lasts about 20 seconds to ensure you wash long enough.